Jason Tovey is revved up to deliver for the Blues in tomorrow night’s big east-west derby with the Scarlets at Cardiff Arms Park.

Jason Tovey is revved up to deliver for the Blues in tomorrow night’s big east-west derby with the Scarlets at Cardiff Arms Park.

Tovey is desperate to line up against former region the Dragons on Boxing Day – but he knows that could depend on how he performs in the first of the Blues’ crunch Christmas RaboDirect Pro12 assignments.

“The Dragons game is probably the one game I’ve wanted to play in all year,” he said.

“But I’ll have to play well this week to keep my place in the team.”

The 23-year-old missed the Blues’ league victory at the Dragons’ Newport lair earlier in the campaign after being blighted by illness and injury following his move along the M4.

The Gwent product was signed as an outside-half by the Blues, but the subsequent arrival of Phil Davies as director of rugby has seen teenager Rhys Patchell emerge as first-choice No. 10 with veteran Wales international Ceri Sweeney providing the main back-up.

Tovey has been shifted to full-back, the position at which he played most of his early rugby for the Dragons.

But he is only now getting regular rugby with Wales star Leigh Halfpenny out nursing a neck injury suffered during the Test defeat to Australia on December 1.

“You look at the squad we’ve got here and anyone can step in anywhere, so you’ve got to play well to keep your place,” said Tovey.

“Any slip-ups and they’re not afraid to change things.

“It really doesn’t bother me whether I play 10 or 15.

“If they give me a run of games at 15 then I’m happy with that.”

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Next page: Patchell and Tovey

The Blues have been using both Patchell and Tovey as first receiver in broken play, utilising the right boot of the former and the left of the latter.

“It probably takes a bit of pressure off Rhys and it gives us a bit of direction, knowing we can play off both sides,” said Tovey.

The Blues have won just two of their last 12 fixtures in all competitions and have only racked up five victories from 16 attempts.

They are ninth in the Pro12 table, 10 points behind fourth-placed Munster and the title play-off spots.

It’s make-or-break time for them with Tovey stressing it’s time for the talking to stop.